Toys For Tots Drive and Ugly Sweater Mixer

In 1947, Diane, the wife of Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks at a Los Angeles, California reserve center decided to hand craft a doll to give to a less fortunate child for Christmas. She directed her husband to find a worthy charity to facilitate the donation. When her husband could find no such organization, he and other Marines collected more than 5,000 toys and distributed them themselves, along with his wife’s doll, to children in the L.A. area.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps learned of this and thought that it was a great way for the Marine Corps to give back to communities. He directed all Marine Corps reserve sites to establish a Toys for Tots program.

Major Bill Hendricks was the director of public relations for Warner Brothers Studios in his civilian job, and was able to convince many celebrities to join the cause and help spread the word. Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo and the first campaign poster for the organization. The logo he designed is still in use today.

Since 1948, Toys for Tots has been a successful national donation organization, distributing millions of toys to children in need for the holidays.

What’s great about the Toys for Tots model is that the toys that are donated stay in the community in which they are donated. In 2015 alone, Toys for Tots donated 26,194 toys to 3,812 children in Frederick County.

Toys for Tots accepts new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls up to age 12.

CrossFit Frederick is once again partnering with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. We have a drop off box and are accepting donations now through December 13th at 8PM. Last year our donation box was overflowing. Let’s make it even better for those less fortunate this season.

CFF will also be hosting a Member Appreciation Mixer on Saturday, December 10th from 5-9PM. The theme is Ugly Sweater. Food will be provided and BYOB. Bring the kids! If you haven’t donated a toy already, bring one to the party.